No reason

Don't you just love it whenever you're going through an incredibly stressful or frustrating time in life, when you can't even get good sleep because of all the difficult decisions you need to make or don't know what direction to take in life yet all of a sudden God shows you that you have no reason not to be filled with thanksgiving and joy in your heart? Yeah. I'm definitely there right now. No matter how crazy things get in life, God is always quick to remind me of His faithfulness in leading me through difficult times and of His goodness in making me to rest in green pastures. No matter how hard things get, what are all these compared to what others- especially those who don't know Christ- deal with? In the midst of things, at least I have assurance and hope in Christ, others don't even know such hope and assurance is available to them....for free! What right do I have not to be joyful? What right do I have to complain? Joy should never be a result of our circumstance. No. Genuine Christian joy does not depend on whether or not things are smooth and well in our lives. Christian joy is a response to the overflowing grace God has extended to us at the cross through Jesus and the future grace and hope available to us also through Christ's obedience to God the Father. Truly, it is as the old familiar hymn says,

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things on earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.

As we fix our eyes upon Jesus, our daily problems on earth seem so silly and insignificant. Yes, the joy of the Lord is my strength...